Rick Gevers & Associates

October 27, 2019

Greetings:

Just ONE new news director opening this week, that at a station that rarely has a vacancy, and. as fas as I know, NO newly hired NDs.

My figures show 25 stations are looking for a new news director. That list, as always, is at the end of this report.

That ONE new opening is featured in a paid help wanted ad below.

ONE obituary this week, but it’s about a man with a most interesting life who helped found Univision.

THREE stories in Names in the News…a veteran newsman returns to TV after a short sojourn to ‘the other side’, an Indiana anchor adds some management duties, and an honor for an Oklahoma news director.

And we’ll tell you about TWO new GMs at CBS owned stations…and one of the stations is NOT a CBS affiliate.

Read on.

Newly Named News Directors: 

I’m not aware of any new news directors this week. If you are, please share with me via an email to rick@rickgevers.com.

New News Director Opening: 

Benedict

WISC-TV, Madison, WI…COLIN BENEDICT is stepping aside as news director of this CBS affiliate to concentrate on his other job…that of VP/News for parent company Morgan Murphy Media. That leaves a pretty attractive opening…there have been only FOUR news directors here in the past 42 years. Colin, obviously, is the fourth, and has been the ND since August, 2008. He had been managing editor, and first joined the station in 1998 as an anchor/reporter. Learn more about this unique opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad below.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, WISC-TV, Madison, WI:

News 3 Now/WISC-TV has a rare opening for a News Director to lead our team at the family-owned flagship of Morgan Murphy Media in one of America’s best cities. One of the best places to raise a family. One of the best college sports towns. One of the best places to live, period.

Meet Madison.

There have been four news directors at this station in the past 42 years so this opportunity doesn’t come along very often. We are looking for someone to break the mold and connect with local audiences in a new way. We embrace coverage through our app, social, web site and streaming video channels resulting in a digital leadership position in the market. The right candidate will have a proven track record of audience growth and understand how to build emerging platforms.

We’ve been committed to quality journalism since 1890. We’ve been honored to win five national Edward R. Murrow Awards from the RTDNA in the past four years, including the top prize for overall excellence in 2016. We are searching for someone that has an expectation of excellence.

In this role, you’ll be asked to set and execute a strategy for audience growth with a content editorial team. You’ll lead efforts to build and retain a top-notch staff. You’ll need to be aggressive moving resources to meet the demand of a shifting local news marketplace. You’ll be asked to make critical editorial decisions with a deep understanding of journalism ethics.

You’ll be asked to inspire.

Click here to learn more and apply.

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/8/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 9/8/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 9/8/19)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/20/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (listed 9/15/19)
KXMA-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 10/20/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/20/19)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Dayside EP, listed 8/18/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 10/20/19)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MMO (listed 10/20/19)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 10/20/19)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 10/20/19)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 9/29/19)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/20/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listing modified 9/15/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/29/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, listed 10/13/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 10/13/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 10/6/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (new listing this week)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 9/1/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted 10/20/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 10/13/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (listed 9/15/19)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KNSD-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/13/19)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 10/13/19:

WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Content Manager)

Listed 9/15/19:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Editorial Director)

Relisted 8/25/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)

Obituary:

Nicolas

EMILIO NICOLÁS, who is credited with helping to found the Univision Network, died earlier this month at the age of 88. But what 88 years those were! His college degrees were in chemistry and biology with a minor in math…he once did research work with live polio viruses. But he later moved into television. The rest of the story comes via this Los Angeles Times obituary.

Names in the News (and other items):

Luhn

BRIAN LUHN‘s foray into the world of corporate communications was short-lived. He’s joined Houston’s KPRC-TV as EP of Special Projects, where he will lead the investigative team and promotable stories production. Brian was the Assistant ND at KRIV-TV in Houston until January, when he jumped to the ‘other side’. He’s a former ND in Charleston, SC, and has worked in Asheville, NC, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Louisville, Ft. Myers, and Sherman, TX.

Powell

Congratulations to TOM POWELL, evening anchor at WPTA-TV (the NBC side of that duopoly) in Ft. Wayne, IN. He’s adding responsibilities as Assistant ND and will continue to anchor at 5:00, 6:00, and 11:00. ND JONATHAN SHELLEY explained it to the staff in this memo. Tom’s worked at the station since 2016, and has also worked in Sioux Falls, Memphis, and South Bend.

Bruce

A tip of the hat to KTUL-TV (Tulsa) News Director PHILLIP BRUCE, one of four people to be inducted into the Lemke Alumni Society’s Hall of Honor at the University of Arkansas. Learn more about Phil…and the other three honorees… here. In addition to KTUL, Phil’s a former ND at KHOU-TV in Houston, Managing Director for NPR on the West Coast who began his career as a reporter and anchor before moving into management.

General Manager News and Notes:

New General Managers for TWO CBS owned stations this week:

CHRIS COTUGNO, a 17 year veteran of KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, has been promoted to the top job. He’s also worked for another station in the market.

And in Tampa, MICHELLE CALACHINO moves up from her current role as controller for WTOG-TV to become general manager. She’s been with this CW affiliate since 2014.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 27, 2019:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KTTV 1999 South Bundy Drive Los Angeles CA 90025
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54301
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Rd NW, Roanoke, VA 24017
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Road Madison, WI 53719 (see ad above!)
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd E, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WJFW-TV 3217 County Rd G Rhinelander, WI 54501
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield WV 24701
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station

October 20, 2019

Greetings:

We have TWO newly named news directors to introduce to you this week, ONE who takes the job we reported last week that had been filled. And…to my knowledge…there are NO new openings.

That leaves, by our count, 24 stations looking for a new news director.

There’s ONE paid help wanted ad for an EP job in Birmingham.

There’s new information in our TWO obituaries about the deaths of two veteran newsmen who both had worked in multiple markets.

Our only item in Names in the News is a correction to an item from last week’s report.

In our news about general managers section, there are THREE items, including the retirement of a longtime Los Angeles GM who’s run TWO different operations there.

Read on for all the details on those stories and others.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Campbell

WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN…this Tegna station has hired JEREMY CAMPBELL as its next news director. He’s been an investigative reporter for the company’s Atlanta station, WXIA-TV. More in this story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jeremy’s also worked in Tampa, Birmingham, Lafayette, LA, and began his career as a creative services producer in New Orleans. At WBIR, he replaces TAZ PAINTER who left this NBC affiliate in August.

Eure

KXXV-TV, Waco, TX…we now have a name to add to last week’s story that this Scripps owned ABC affiliate had filled its open news director position. JOSH EURE will be the next ND here. His complete background is detailed on his Linkedin page. Josh replaces CHARLIE HALDEMAN who left last summer and is now the Senior Manager of Digital Content for KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station in Houston.

New News Director Opening: 

To my knowledge, there are no news director openings this week, If you know of one we haven’t reported, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Executive Producer, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL:

WBRC Fox6 is searching for a news manager who can oversee our early evening newscasts.

If you’re a great coach who can teach producers how to craft a fast-pace, must-watch TV newscast, you should apply. If you love leading a hungry team of reporters, you should apply.

Our brand focuses on weather and urgency, so we’re hiring executive producers who push for urgency in copy and know how to adjust on the fly when breaking news changes our daily plans. Our executive producers produce regularly, know how to edit, and they add content to our digital platforms.

If you’re a great coach who can teach producers how to craft a fast-pace, must-watch TV Newscast, you should apply. If you love leading a hungry team of reporters, you should apply. Our brand focuses on weather and urgency, so we’re hiring executive producers who push for urgency in copy and know how to adjust on the fly when breaking news changes our daily plans. Our executive producers produce regularly, know how to edit, and they add content to our digital platforms.

*Develop training initiatives to teach producers how to remain innovative
*Develop story ideas
*Write teases
*Call sources for new/updated information
*Create graphics to use during newscasts
*Edit
*Add content to our digital platforms
*Be a newsroom leader

Apply here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/8/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 9/8/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 9/8/19)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (new listing this week)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (listed 9/15/19)
KXMA-TV, Bismarck, ND (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (new listing this week)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Dayside EP, listed 8/18/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted this week)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MMO (new listing this week)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (new listing this week)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (new listing this week)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 9/29/19)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (new listing this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listing modified 9/15/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/29/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, listed 10/13/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 10/13/19, see ad above!)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 10/6/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (8/18/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted this week)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 9/1/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 10/13/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (listed 9/15/19)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KNSD-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/13/19)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 10/13/19:

WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Content Manager)

Listed 9/15/19:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Editorial Director)

Relisted 8/25/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)

Obituaries:

Myers

Our update earlier this week brought you news that CHRIS MYERS, deputy Los Angeles Bureau Chief for CBS News, had died He was 54. I’m told Chris cut his finger cooking dinner, developed an infection and died a few days later. CBS remembered him in this post on the CBS News website. He’d worked in the bureau for the last two years, and had held a number of jobs at stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Paducah, KY.

White

Funeral services for KEN WHITE will be held next Tuesday in Hermitage, PA. We told you last week that Ken had lost his battle with cancer. He was 63. More details in this obituary. Ken most recently was the news director for WVVA-TV in Bluefield, WV but stepped down in August for health reasons. He’d also been an ND in Charlotte, Charleston/Huntington, WV, and Shreveport.

Names in the News (and other items):

Last week’s report about CANDI LASTER‘s promotion at KSHB-TV in Kansas City incorrectly reported the daypart in which she will be working. Candi will be the nightside EP for this Scripps owned NBC affiliate, not mornings. Apologies.

General Manager News and Notes:

Corsini

Veteran Los Angeles TV executive DON CORSINI will retire at end of the year as General Manager of Nexstar’s newly acquired KTLA-TV. He’s run that station for the last ten years, and previously had been GM for KCBS/KCAL-TV and held several other jobs in Los Angeles. Many more details in this story from Deadline.com.

MARC JAROMIN returns to his hometown of Buffalo and WKBW-TV (ABC) as General Manager. He had been sales manager under different ownership years ago. More on Marc…and what he’s been doing since leaving…in this news release.

JOHN HANNON will be the next general manager for KXLN-TV, the Univision station in Houston.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 20, 2019:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KTTV 1999 South Bundy Drive Los Angeles CA 90025
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54301
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Rd NW, Roanoke, VA 24017
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd E, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WJFW-TV 3217 County Rd G Rhinelander, WI 54501
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield WV 24701
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station

October 13, 2019

Friday, October 18, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Sad news from Los Angeles this afternoon where a longtime newsman…who worked both in local news and network…has died.

Myers

CHRIS MYERS, who was the deputy bureau chief of the CBS News Bureau in Los Angeles, died yesterday. CBS News President SUSAN ZIRINSKY shared the news in this email.

Longtime Chicago TV writer ROBERT FEDER reported this morning that Chris was “in intensive care in Los Angeles with a life- threatening infection after reportedly injuring his hand.”

Chris had been with CBS in Los Angeles for the last two years. He’d earlier worked for two stations in Los Angeles and three in Chicago, including a stint as Assistant News Director for WFLD-TV and as an EP for WMAQ-TV.

As you’ll learn in the note above, a memorial service will be held next Friday in Los Angeles.

Our sympathy to his family, friends, and co-workers.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

ONE major market news director was named this week, there’s ONE new medium market vacancy, and ONE small market ND job filled…but we don’t know who got that job yet.

Those changes leave our count of open news director jobs at 25.

Sadly, we have TWO obituaries, ONE of a three time news director and one for a GM who spent most of his career in his home town of Cincinnati.

A handfuls of news managers are getting new jobs, and we have TWO GM moves, both within Nexstar, as a veteran GM exits the company while another experienced GM joins the company.

Details below.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Medalie

WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL…our UPDATE earlier this week told you that MELISSA MEDALIE has been promoted to VP/News Director for this FOX o-and-o. The Orlando Sentinel’s longtime TV writer HAL BOEDEKER has more. Melissa’s been the Assistant News Director there for two years, and joined the station as an EP in 2010. She began her career as a reporter, working in Elmira, Syracuse, and Harrisburg before joining Orlando based Ivanhoe Broadcast News as an executive producer. She replaces JEFF ZELLER who left the station in August after about ten years as ND.

And we have removed (from our list of open ND jobs at the end of this newsletter) the listing for KXXV-TV in Waco, TX. I’m told the next ND there has been hired but won’t be announced for a few days.

New News Director Opening: 

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA…DAVID HUGHES is leaving this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. but I haven’t been able to reach him to confirm his next job. David’s been the ND here for three plus years, coming from WFLA-TV in Tampa where he was an EP. He’s also worked in Raleigh and Macon, GA. More on him in his profile on the WDBJ website.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Executive Producer, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL:

WBRC Fox6 is searching for a news manager who can oversee our early evening newscasts.

If you’re a great coach who can teach producers how to craft a fast-pace, must-watch TV newscast, you should apply. If you love leading a hungry team of reporters, you should apply.

Our brand focuses on weather and urgency, so we’re hiring executive producers who push for urgency in copy and know how to adjust on the fly when breaking news changes our daily plans. Our executive producers produce regularly, know how to edit, and they add content to our digital platforms.

If you’re a great coach who can teach producers how to craft a fast-pace, must-watch TV Newscast, you should apply. If you love leading a hungry team of reporters, you should apply. Our brand focuses on weather and urgency, so we’re hiring executive producers who push for urgency in copy and know how to adjust on the fly when breaking news changes our daily plans. Our executive producers produce regularly, know how to edit, and they add content to our digital platforms.

*Develop training initiatives to teach producers how to remain innovative
*Develop story ideas
*Write teases
*Call sources for new/updated information
*Create graphics to use during newscasts
*Edit
*Add content to our digital platforms
*Be a newsroom leader

Apply here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 9/1/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/8/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 9/8/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 9/8/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (listed 9/15/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 9/8/19)
KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA (AM EP, listed 8/11/19)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Dayside EP, listed 8/18/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 10/6/19)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 929/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listing modified 9/15/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/29/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, new listing this week)
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (Digital Content EP, relisted 9/15/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted this week, see ad above!)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 10/6/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (8/18/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted 8/18/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 9/1/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (new listing this week)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (listed 9/15/19)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KNSD-TV, San Diego, CA (new listing this week)

Other News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Content Manager)

Listed 9/15/19:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Editorial Director)

Relisted 8/25/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)

Obituaries:

  White

A memorial service will be held next Saturday (October 19th) for former ND KEN WHITE, who died this week after a five year battle with mantle cell lymphoma. Ken’s daughter posted details (along with suggestions for unusual attire for such an event) on Facebook. Ken most recently was ND for WWVA-TV in Bluefield, WV, a job he left in August for health reasons. The station remembers him here. He also was an ND in Charleston/Huntington, WV, Shreveport, was the initial ND for WCCB-TV in Charlotte, and worked in Pittsburgh. Ken also hosted sports talk radio!

Fee

BILL FEE, who spent most of his career at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, including 12 years as GM, also died of cancer this week. He was born and raised there, and returned after serving (and being injured) in Vietnam. WCPO paid tribute to him here, and a more traditional obituary is available as well, where you can learn details about a memorial service this Friday.

Names in the News (and other items):

KPIX-TV, the CBS owned station in San Francisco, has promoted EMILY DICK to morning executive producer. She’s been there for two years, hired as an associate producer, then producer, and now EP. Emily has also worked in Norfolk.

CANDI LASTER has been promoted to morning evening executive producer at KSHB-TV in Kansas City. She’s been a producer there in her second tour of duty at this Scripps owned NBC affiliate. Candi also worked in Louisville, Little Rock, and Springfield, MO.

Finally, KRNV-TV in Reno has hired JASON PUMO as its next Assistant ND. He most recently worked in Columbus, OH, as a Senior EP for WBNS-TV and is a former ND in Jackson, MS. Jason’s resume also includes time in Portland, OR, and Evansville, IN.

General Manager News and Notes:

Aitken

JAMIE AITKEN is leaving his job as GM for Nexstar’s newly acquired WTTV/WXIN-TV (CBS/FOX) in Indianapolis at the end of the month. Jamie told me (in an exclusive interview during the intermission of a HUGH JACKMAN concert in Indianapolis Saturday night) 🙂 that he thought the time was right with the ownership change. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his teenage son before he leaves for college. Jamie’s a former GM for KDAF-TV in Dallas, KASW-TV in Phoenix, KREM-TV in Spokane, and was GM for the now defunct Texas Cable News. He’s began his career in print.

One Nexstar GM leaves (above) another joined the company as J.R. JACKSON has been named GM for KSEE/KGPE-TV (NBC/CBS) in Fresno. It’s a return to Fresno for J.R., who was the General Sales Manager for KMPH-TV there. He’s been the GM for KVAL-TV and KMTR-TV in Eugene, OR and has also worked in Sacramento.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 13, 2019:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KTTV 1999 South Bundy Drive Los Angeles CA 90025
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54301
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Rd NW, Roanoke, VA 24017
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd E, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WJFW-TV 3217 County Rd G Rhinelander, WI 54501
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield WV 24701
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station

October 6, 2019

Friday, October 11, 2019 UPDATE:

I’m sorry to tell you that a three time news director lost his battle with cancer this morning.

  White

KEN WHITE died after fighting mantle cell lymphoma for five years. Before he died, this detailed note was posted yesterday to his Facebook page.

Ken’s most recent job as as ND for WVVA-TV in Bluefield, WV, a position he left in August to concentrate on his health. He’d also been a news director for WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV, and was the founding news director for WCCB-TV in Charlotte, where he spent 14 years.

I hope to have more details on services and memorial information in the full newsletter this weekend.

Our sympathy to Ken’s wife, family, friends, and co-workers.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

There’s a new news director for a network owned station in a top 20 market.

Medalie

MELISSA MEDALIE has been promoted to VP/News Director for WOFL-TV, the FOX o-and-o in Orlando. The Orlando Sentinel’s longtime TV writer HAL BOEDEKER has more. Melissa’s been the Assistant News Director there since August, 2017, and first joined the station as an executive producer in 2010.

Melissa began her career as a reporter, working in Elmira, Syracuse, and Harrisburg before joining Orlando based Ivanhoe Broadcast News as an executive producer.

She replaces JEFF ZELLER who left the station in August after about ten years as ND.

Chioji

And…speaking of Orlando…I’m sorry to report the death of longtime WESH-TV anchor WENDY CHIOJI, who lost her battle with cancer yesterday. She was 57. The station remembers her here.

Our sympathy to her family, friends, and former co-workers at WESH.

We’ll have more on the week’s news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

Just ONE new news director in this week’s report, and that involves someone who’d been the interim ND at his station for several months.

And, as far as I know, NO new ND openings this week, leaving our count of open ND jobs at 26. TWO of the open ND jobs are advertised in our Paid Help Wanted Ads.

There are THREE items in Names in the News, and TWO GM items, both involving multiple time GMs taking new jobs.

Read on for the details.

Newly Named News Director: 

WOAY-TV, Oak Hill, WV…we’re a little tardy in reporting TYLER BARKER‘s promotion to news director for this locally owned ABC affiliate, which he tells me happened in May. He’s been the interim news director since DENNIS LORTZ left last December after just a few months as ND. Tyler first joined the station in 2015 as the weekend meteorologist and was later promoted to chief meteorologist.

And I wanted to clarity our report last week on the ND change at KRGV-TV in Weslaco, TX. We told you that JENNY MARTINEZ was retiring. Jenny tells me that’s not the case, that she’s moving on to the next chapter after 25 years at the station. She was the subject of a lengthy and interesting profile in the local newspaper.

New News Director Openings: 

I’m not aware of any new openings this week. If you are, please let me know.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO:

Are you a talented and innovative news leader ready to take an aggressive station to the next level in a competitive news market?

If so, we are searching for a bold and fearless News Director at KSHB, the Scripps NBC station in Kansas City. The right candidate will be someone who understands deep impact enterprise content and can help teach and develop our talented group of journalists into strong emotional storytellers.

We seek someone who can foster a positive, innovative and hard charging newsroom into a digital now mindset. We are looking for a candidate who can effectively plan a news strategy for a continuous measurement world, while still being able to coordinate breaking news, weather and large event coverage.

You must be a digital powerhouse, leveraging the web, OTT, and all social platforms to make sure that local audiences are seeing, talking about and sharing stories generated by our newsroom. You must be a risk taker and someone ready to adapt, change and think out of the box.

If this sounds like you, we would like for you to apply by clicking here.

News Director, WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI:

It’s football season, so let me throw this at you:

#NexstarNation is looking for a NEW coach (read News Director) to lead our team at WFRV in Green Bay.

Must have a winning record on the field, be an all-star at developing talent, and know how to create a playbook to “own” the big story.

Think leader, game-changer – someone who has a passion for the game and the players.

The coach (read News Director) must be strategic, know how to run the ball down the field on broadcast, while playing just as hard on our digital and social media platforms. And you probably guessed, our coverage of the Green Bay Packers is a priority. Must have plays for unique storytelling and programming.

To be considered, you must have more than five years of experience on the field as a successful coach (read news manager.)

Apply here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 9/1/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/8/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 9/8/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 9/8/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (relisted this week)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (listed 9/15/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 9/8/19)
KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA (AM EP, listed 8/11/19)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Dayside EP, listed 8/18/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (new listing this week)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 929/19)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 8/18/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listing modified 9/15/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/29/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (Digital Content EP, relisted 9/15/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 9/8/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/17/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (new listing this week)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (8/17/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted 8/17/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 9/1/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, relisted 8/17/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (listed 9/15/19)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 9/15/19:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Editorial Director)

Relisted 8/25/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)

Names in the News (and other items):

THOMAS LESYNA joins Nexstar’s WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV as executive producer. He’s a former AND for KMTV in Omaha, NE (Scripps).

Julie S.

In case you missed it, we shared with you earlier this week details about JULIE SZULCZEWSKI’s federal lawsuit against Cox Media and her former station, WSOC-TV in Charlotte. Julie, now the news director for WAFF-TV in Huntsville, was ND at WSOC from 2011 until 2018, had been the managing editor there from 2007-2010 when she left to be the ND for Hubbard’s KOB-TV in Albuquerque. Julie had also worked for Cox’s WFTV in Orlando, as well as in Miami, St. Louis, and Ft. Myers.

Finally, due to an editing error last week we misidentified Detroit’s WXYZ-TV news director RHONDA LaVELLE by using her maiden name. Apologies to Rhonda.

General Manager News and Notes:

Higgins

MARK HIGGINS moves within Nexstar to become the next general manager for WFLA-TV (NBC) in Tampa. He’s been the GM for Nexstar’s WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, SC and has held multiple GM jobs. Mark replaces SKIP VALET who’d held the job for less than two years. Skip’s a former GM in Norfolk and Orlando, and was an ND for Post-Newsweek (now Graham Media) stations in Houston, Orlando, and Jacksonville FL,, where I hired him as a production assistant in 1982.

Totsch

BOBBY TOTSCH leaves Sinclair’s WPMI-TV (NBC) in Mobile to become the next general manager for Nexstar’s newly acquired WHO-TV (NBC) in Des Moines. Bobby told me the move brings him much closer to family in Missouri. He’s a former GM for KCTV in Kansas City and earlier had worked as the general sales manager for KMOV-TV in St. Louis.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 6, 2019:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KTTV 1999 South Bundy Drive Los Angeles CA 90025
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WOFL-TV 35 Skyline Dr, Lake Mary, FL 32746
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112 (see ad above!)
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54301 (see ad above!)
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd E, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WJFW-TV 3217 County Rd G Rhinelander, WI 54501
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield WV 24701
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station